Description:

Neolamprologus brevis is a quite common shell dweller species in the hobby, and several color morphs are available. The Standard color form has a brownish body with 9 tan stripes down its side. The Sunspot color form is a brownish-mauve colored fish with a bright golden spot on each side of the fish right behind its pectoral fins. Other varieties may have a blue cast over their body with blue accents on their fins. During periods of stress, the fish develops light tan vertical stripes down its sides. Each color variants have florescent blue lines beneath the eyes under the right lighting conditions.

Neolamprologus brevis is often found in areas within Lake Tanganyika where relatively few snail shells collect and therefore pairs of fish will share the same shell. This behaviour may be observed in the aquarium, when only a few shells are available. The territories the fish establishes are very small, usually not larger than 15 cm, but they are defended vigorously. They have very similar looking to Lamprologus ocellatus, but Neolamprologus brevis have vertical barring on their flanks.

They can be difficult to sex when they are young, but adult males grow larger than females.

Their breeding is quite easy, they may spawn even in a community tank, but if you want to raise a full brood, a separate tank should be used. The female lays the eggs into snail shells, so provide a plenty of different sized shells, and the fish can pick the right one. Escargot shells are a good choice and can be obtained quite easily. The water should be hard and alkaline with a temperature of 26-27 °C. When keeping several females per male it helps to reduce aggression between males, and males also often spawn with multiple females. During spawning the females will try to catch the attention of males by displaying at the entrance of their shells, which they bury into the sandy substrate until only the entrance is visible. When a male is ready to spawn, the female swims into the shell where she deposits her eggs, while the male releases the sperm and when the female begins to back out of the shell the sperm sucked into the shell by the action of the exiting female and fertilising the eggs. When the shell is large enough the male may enter it before releasing his sperm. The female usually lays 15-30 eggs in the shell. After fertilisation the male plays no further part in brood care, the female guards and fans the eggs with her fins. The eggs hatch in 24 hours and the larvae become free-swimming in another 6-7 days. As they grow they venturing further and further from the shell. The fry can be fed with newly hatched brine shrimp.

Sources:
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/neolamprologus-brevis/
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/8651
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/BrevisShelldweller.php
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/n_brevis.php
http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=44
http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Neolamprologus_brevis
A Tanganyika és a Malawi tó sügérvilága
Lake Tanganyika Cichlids by Mark Smith
Guide to Tanganyika Cichlids by AD Konigs